On the power of being listened to…

We hear a lot lately about being a “listening Church.”And so we should.To be a listening Church has some wonderful practical ramifications… it helps us to address reality by constructing [we hope] an accurate picture of that reality from the data we gather.There is another side to being a “listening Church:” People like being listened to.It makes them feel respected, acknowledged… and in some ways we may even say it helps people feel hope.To be listened to means you are not alone, and THAT – I would argue – is the beginning of hope.

I’ve felt this in my own life recently.There’s nothing worse for a preacher than to look out over his congregation and see faces that are utterly disengaged.Conversely, there’s nothing better than to look out and see people actively listening.I’ve been blessed to have “listening” congregations.Recently, in the wake of all the sad news being revealed/revisited by the Church, I’ve noticed this dynamic present among my brother priests.The crisis spurred several listening sessions wherein clergy were totally free to express their worries, concerns, critiques etc. about the present moment.The men felt listened to… and it gave them a sense of hope.This in sharp contrast to the frequent conversations we have about how we don’t always feel listened to or like there’s even a place for dialogue to happen with our superiors.

Listening is important.

That’s why a seemingly spare phrase in this mornings Office of Readings really hit me during my holy hour.Psalm 17(18):36.In the Ordinary Form Psalmody it reads,

You gave me your saving shield;You upheld me, trained me with care.

‘sounds fine, right?But here’s the Ordinary Form Latin (neo-Vulgata) with my own translation based on a simple dictionary search:

I’ve been diving into Latin as part of my assignment at St. Mary’s in DC.We celebrate the Extraordinary Form of the Mass and the Ordinary Form side by side quite harmoniously.But had I not been here… had I not begun this study, I never would’ve known this morning that God HEARS me… and that his hearing is qualified by his clemency, his gentleness… and further that he desires me to be lifted up in the same way that Mary’s soul lifted up praise of him (Magnificare).

I’ve been coming across more and more inconsistencies like this as I dive into the Scriptures using multiple languages (vernacular English, Italian, Spanish), comparing them with what is supposed to be their origin today (neo-Vulgata Latin) and our ancient Vulgate texts from St. Jerome.It has so enriched my prayer… and it makes me thank God more and more for the new translation of the mass and other sacraments.Folks get hung up on some of the seemingly awkward cadence of the new translations, but they’ll get used to that over time.The richness of spirit that can come from being ever more true to the actual texts of Scripture is too good to pass up.Among other things, that richness reminds me today that God is a listening God who has not left me alone… and it inspires me to be part of a listening Church.